(The National Mediation Board issued the following on September 8, 2009.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Mediation Board has completed a survey of its contract arbitrators regarding the railroad arbitration process, submissions from the parties, and arguments presented by the parties.
An initial summary of the survey results is available on the NMB web site (www.nmb.gov). See Arbitration on the “What’s New” page.
Seventy three (73) arbitrators responded to survey questions seeking input on important elements in the arguments presented to the neutral and guidance for parties entering the railroad arbitration process. All of the responding arbitrators have done railroad arbitration work under the RLA within the past two years.
The initial summary of the survey results will be expanded into a “best practices” training program for the parties and will be made available as part of the NMB’s distance learning program, accessible through the NMB web site.
The NMB
The NMB is an independent federal agency, established by the 1934 amendments to the Railway Labor Act (RLA). The Agency’s services and integrated dispute-resolution processes for labor-management relations enable the National Mediation Board to meet its statutory mandate to minimize work stoppages in the railroad and airline industries. These processes include Mediation, Arbitration, Representation, and Alternative Dispute Resolution programs.